New Jersey Society of CPAs Grants More Than $380,000 in Accounting Scholarships

The New Jersey Society of Certified Public Accountants (NJCPA) Scholarship Fund granted more than $380,000 in scholarships to New Jersey high school and college students in April, marking its 60th year of distribution. Recipients received their award certificates by mail as this year’s award ceremony was canceled due to coronavirus restrictions.

More than 220 high school and college accounting students applied for the awards, with students from Rutgers University, The College of New Jersey and Seton Hall topping the list of college recipients. From more than 140 college applications, 72 students were interviewed and 34 were selected to receive $6,500 one-year scholarships.

New Jersey-based college recipients currently attend Centenary University, College of the Holy Cross, Fairleigh Dickinson University-Madison, Loyola College in Maryland, Mercer County Community College, Montclair State University, Northeastern University, Ramapo College of New Jersey, Rider University, Rowan University, Rutgers University, Saint Peter’s University, Seton Hall University, Stevens Institute of Technology, Stockton University, Syracuse University, The College of New Jersey and William Paterson University of New Jersey.

Out of 81 applications from high school seniors, 33 students with the highest scores were invited to interview and 16 winners were selected to receive $7,000 four-year scholarships. High school award winners currently attend Bridgewater Raritan High School, Clearview Regional High School, Hamilton High School West, Holmdel High School, Holy Cross Prep Academy, Hunterdon Central Regional High School, Jefferson Township High School, Lenape High School, Manchester Township High School, Northern Vly Region-Old Tappan High School, River Dell Regional High School, Wayne Valley High School, West Essex Senior High School, Whippany Park High School and Williamstown High School.

This year also included a Robert L. Garrity Award, named in recognition of his service as executive director of the NJCPA by the Council of Past Presidents. Garrity, a retired CPA, passed away on Jan. 13. The NJCPA’s Atlantic/Cape May, Bergen and Mercer chapters also presented awards in varying amounts to local students.

For a complete list of this year’s winners in each scholarship category, go to njcpa.org/scholarship.

“Honoring the academic excellence of our next generation is a wonderful way to encourage these students to enter the accounting profession and become CPAs. I am always thankful for the generosity of our members in recognizing such outstanding individuals,” said Ralph Albert Thomas, CPA (DC), CGMA, CEO and executive director at the NJCPA.

The NJCPA Scholarship Fund has awarded more than $7 million since inception to students who meet academic, test score, essay and personal interview qualifications. The fund has supported more than 1,700 New Jersey students on their way to becoming CPAs. More than 65 NJCPA members read essays and/or conducted interviews during this year’s selection process.

The following CPA firms contributed to this year’s Scholarship Fund:

Bowman & Company LLP
CohnReznick LLP
EisnerAmper LLP
Frazer, Evangelista & Company, LLC
Mazars USA LLP
PKF O’Connor Davies, LLP
Smolin, Lupin & Co. P.A.
Untracht Early LLC
Wilkin & Guttenplan, PC
Withum